Shows / Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joy
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joy
Joy Lab isn't your typical happiness podcast. We focus on strengthening your mental health with the science of joy, recognizing that joy can be tapped into even amidst experiences like depression, anxiety, stress, grief, and burnout. You can expect a blend of the best cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, positive psychology practices, stress management techniques, and mindfulness skills. Each month we focus on building one Element of Joy such as gratitude, self-compassion, confidence…
Episodes
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyWhat To Do When Your Emotions Surge, You Feel Overwhelmed, & You Take It Out On Others (Equanimity & Mental Health Series p. 4) [51]
The last few episodes we worked with the internal dynamics of an emotional storm and how equanimity can come in to tame the anxiety, fear, reactivity…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyHow to Change Course When You're Stuck In "Why Me" & Other Negative Stories About Yourself (Equanimity & Mental Health Series p. 3) [50]
In last episode, we faced the beginning of an emotional storm and now the storm is whipping up more, enough to incite that common hurricane called "why me"……
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyWhen An Emotional Reactivity Storm Hits & Negative Thoughts Start Spiraling (Equanimity & Mental Health Series p. 2) [49]
In this episode, we're working on how to navigate through emotional storms with equanimity, paying special attention to that phase of an emotional storm when…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyThe Power of Grounding When Fear, Anxiety, Irritability, & Moodiness Surge (Equanimity & Mental Health Series p. 1) [48]
In this episode and the next four after this, we'll look at how to use equanimity when emotional storms hit. In mental health lingo, it's often called…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyMindsets & Mental Health: How Thoughts About Yourself & The World Impact Your Wellbeing [47]
In this episode, we're working on our element of Savoring and considering this insight from Henry in last episode: "We act as if we're just reacting to the…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joySavoring the Future: A Refreshing Skill to Boost Mood & Help Navigate Depression [46]
Savoring is a powerful skill and savoring the future can sometimes be more accessible than past and present savoring for those dealing with depression…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyMindfulness, Savoring the Present Moment, & Overcoming FOBO (it's kinda like FOMO) [45]
In this episode, we're working on our element of Savoring... and this time, we're savoring the present moment (we savored the past last episode). One of the…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joySavoring Your Past Without Ruminating or Romanticizing [44]
In this episode, we're working on our element of Savoring. This element is a powerful antidote for chronic busyness and feelings of overwhelm. And maybe best…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyHow Side Hustles & Obsessive Passions Can Lead to Burnout & Chronic Stress [43]
In this episode, we're working on our element of Inspiration by looking at our passions more closely... Harmonious passions are just like inspiration, they…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyUsing Self-Acceptance to Create Positive Changes for Your Mental Health [42]
The element for this episode is "inspiration." In the last two episodes, we dug into some strong myths around change and happiness. These centered around the…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyYour Happiness Doesn't Depend on Other People Changing [41]
The element for this episode is "inspiration." We explored this element last episode, busting the myth that you need to be fixed. In the episode, we're talking…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyDealing With Depression & Anxiety? First Know That You're Not Broken [40]
About Joy Lab: Joy Lab is an Ambie-nominated podcast and mental health tool that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joySelf-Compassion Guided Meditation: Healing the Rejected Parts of Yourself [39]
We all have pieces of ourselves that we feel are flawed, broken, and that we reject. T hat rejection can keep us in a stuck place that makes depression…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyThe Mental Health Obstacles You Need to Know — And Coping Skills to Navigate Them [38]
About Joy Lab: Joy Lab is an Ambie-nominated podcast and mental health tool that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyGuided Mindfulness Meditation: Sympathetic Joy for a Happiness Boost [37]
This meditation is a surprisingly helpful tool to shift mood and perspective. If you're not sure what sympathetic joy is, head to our last episode, number 36…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyEight Billion Joy Tips for Everyday Mental Wellbeing and Stress Relief [36]
About Joy Lab: Joy Lab is an Ambie-nominated podcast and mental health tool that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyThe Happiness Paradox And Why Cheering for Rivals Improves Your Mood [35]
How do our elements of joy help us build this internal, infinite supply of joy that is within us? One reason is that we don't focus on happiness here at Joy…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyHeart-Opening Meditation: A Guided Mindfulness Practice for Compassion and Connection [34]
We're building on what we've discussed in our last few episodes on Gratitude. After a short intro, you'll find a powerful mindfulness practice to tune into…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyMental Health Tools: About The Three Mindfulness Meditations and Visualizations [33]
You'll see three special meditations show up soon wherever you listen or watch your Joy Lab podcast. These three meditations will help you work with the…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyGratitude Step 3: Taking Wise Action That Builds Connection & Wellbeing [32]
We're talking about Gratitude and the third of our strategies to put it into practice. This strategy of "Choosing Wisely" may sound boring or cliche (for…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyGratitude Step 2: Accepting What Is and What It Does for Your Stress & Mood [31]
We're talking about Gratitude and the second of our strategies to put it into practice (see the first strategy in episode #30). This strategy of "Accepting…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyGratitude Step 1: Mindfulness Skills to Be More Present & See What Is [30]
There's a ton of research on gratitude and how powerful it can be for mental health. We'll talk about a really helpful step-by-step mindfulness strategy that…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joySelf-Compassion Practices & Backdraft: When Being Good to Yourself Feels Bad [29]
There's an interesting obstacle to self-compassion known as backdraft. This is a fire science term that psychology also uses to describe a pretty uncomfortable…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyYou Are Not Alone: Using Self-Compassion Practices & Coping Skills for Loneliness & Emotional Resilience (Compassion Series) [28]
In this episode, we're talking about self-compassion. We're digging into that third aspect of self-compassion noted by researcher Dr. Kristin Neff, which is…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyHard On Yourself & Self-Critical? Try These Self-Compassion Skills & CBT Techniques (Compassion Series) [27]
In this episode, we're talking about self-compassion. We're exploring the three aspects of self-compassion noted by researcher Dr. Kristin Neff. The first…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joySelf-Compassion Practices, Rumination, & CBT Techniques: Don't Believe Everything You Think About Yourself (Compassion Series) [26]
Self-compassion is essential to combat how often we're complete jackasses to ourselves. We say cruel things to ourselves, set ridiculously impossible…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyLoneliness Relief: Creating a House of Belonging for Connection & Wellbeing (Learning to Love Well Series) [25]
In this episode, we're turning to our fifth lesson of loving well, which is about the power of belonging. This lesson may be the easiest to sell. We all want…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyFeel More Connected & Less Lonely With The Mindfulness Skill of Deep Listening (Learning to Love Well Series) [24]
We're talking about our fourth lesson of loving well in this episode: Learning to Listen Deeply. Listening well is a skill and a superpower that makes us…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyEmotional Resilience: Going Beyond Vulnerability With Permeability — The Open-Hearted Practice of Loving Well (Learning to Love Well Series) [23]
In this episode, Henry and Aimee talk about that third lesson of loving well: Be more permeable. What does that mean? Being more permeable means to soften our…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyShaking off Loneliness & Judgement by Seeing the Innocence in Others (Learning to Love Well Series) [22]
We're digging into our second lesson on Learning to Love Well, which is seeing the innocence in others. This skill gets at the heart of the illusion of…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joySelf-Compassion Practices: Why Loving Yourself First Is the Foundation of Loving Well (Learning to Love Well Series) [21]
Way back in episode #6, we introduced the 5 lessons of loving well. These are powerful little strategies, so we wanted to get into each a bit more. So, that's…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyJoy Lab Every Wednesday! We'll Cover More of Your Mental Health Podcast Faves: Resilience, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mental Wellness, Mindfulness, Holistic Mental Health, & More! [20]
Exciting news! We'll drop a new episode of the Joy Lab podcast every Wednesday, begining September 1, 2022. This podcast is an important part of our mission to…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyThe Power of Play: Positive Psychology, Clocks vs. Clouds and Taming Your Wild Things [19]
Play is part of our learning process, a key strategy to create connections, and essential for optimal mental health. In this episode, we'll talk about some…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyScience of Joy & Happiness: The Perspective Shift That Reveals How Vast and Connected You Are [18]
Did you catch the first set of images released from the Webb telescope? Did you feel a bit of awe? And if you listened to last episode (#17) you may have…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyFeeling Depressed from the News? The Case for Awe & Wonder in a Distressed World [17]
Awe, wonder, enchantment… don't we all want these experiences?! And when it comes to mental health, they're super beneficial. In this episode, we'll explain…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyNavigating Anxiety: The Surprising Mental Health Benefits of Sitting With Not Knowing [16]
Curiosity is a powerful element of joy. There are two key constructs related to curiosity that we'll dive into in this episode because they are particularly…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyGrief and Healing: How to Respond to Tragic Loss Without Losing Yourself [15]
How is joy even possible amidst so much grief and tragic loss? How can we keep the elements of joy that we work on in Joy Lab present amidst such pain and…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyLoneliness Relief: How the Illusion of Separation Creates Loneliness — And How to Reconnect [14]
Feeling hopeful is a key contributor to better mental health. And don't worry, you don't have to be an optimist to be hopeful, as it's a skill that we can all…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyThe Roots of Resilience & Holistic Mental Health: The Foundation That Holds You in Hard Times [13]
We're all wired for resilience. It's built into all living systems, from a single cell to dynamic global systems. And none of us would be here if we didn't…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyStressed Out? Five Coping Strategies for Anxiety and Stress Relief [12]
Feeling stressed lately? Our stress responses are being activated by a lot of stressors floating around lately. Activation is generally fine (and can be good…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joySavoring & the Science of Happiness: A Commonly Forgotten Key to Wellbeing [11]
In this episode, we are exploring the forgotten key to happiness… savoring! In our modern world, there is both excess and inequity, a recipe that has…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyThe Science of Inspiration: How to Invite More Joy and Motivation Into Your Life [10]
Feeling mentally stuck, burned out, or like your inner spark has quietly slipped out the back door? We'll explore inspiration as a cultivatable, science-backed…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyThe Viral Happiness Practice That Transforms Your Wellbeing (It's Sympathetic Joy!) [9]
The element for this episode is sympathetic joy, which is the practice of delighting in other people's happiness. But it's easier said than done—especially…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyGratitude and Gratefulness: The Science of Both and How to Practice Them for Mood Improvement [8]
Today, we're discussing gratitude. Not the gratitude associated with cliche sayings stamped on mugs or "#blessed" posts on Instagram. We're diving into the…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyCompassion Is Your Mind-Body Connection Superpower [7]
The element for this episode is compassion. Given everything that's going on in the world today, it's more important than ever. Despite this growing need for…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyHolistic Mental Health: Five Lessons on Loving Well — The Foundation of Emotional Wellbeing [6]
The theme of this episode is Love. Not the rom-com version of love, but the genuine deep connection that we all long for. And even though love is all around…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyChallenging the Shoulds That Are Stealing Your Joy (+ CBT Techniques You Can Try Today) [5]
Too often mental health conversations get stuck in a focus of dysfunction, uncomfortable symptoms, and focusing on "fixing" what feels off. But, mental health…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyThe Science and Practice of Awe & Letting in the Good: Insights from Positive Psychology (Not Toxic Positivity) [4]
Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek are talking all about awe today. Awe might seem like a rare occurrence and entirely outside of your control. But, that's…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyMental Health Tools: How Curiosity Reshapes Your Brain — The Neuroscience of Staying Curious [3]
In this episode of JoyLab, our hosts Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek explore the element of curiosity and how it can work to reshape our brains. We…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyDepression, Anxiety, & Stress Relief: Reaching for the Handle of Hope When It's Hard to Find [2]
In this episode, we discuss the concept of hope as a tool to achieving joyful lives, drawing from traditional wisdom, neuroscience, and personal experiences…
Joy Lab | strengthen your mental health with the science of joyA Joyful Life Is Natural: Insights from Positive Psychology, Holistic Healing, & Mindfulness [1]
Are you ready to uncover and foster your most joyful self? Dr. Henry Emmons, MD, is an author and an integrative psychiatrist with over three decades of…